Mental health on the bookshelf:

 The best self-help books

Self Help is a book club and community dedicated to self-help and self-development.

Visit shelfhelp.club for more information on the Book of the Month as well as meet-ups and author events

But there are thousands of books available offering advice and strategies to help live with the various forms, from OCD to depression, anxiety to autism, as well as stories of support from others that have been lost and found and want to share the message that, however, we are feeling, we are not alone.

In the words of Reasons to Stay Alive author Matt Haig: “Words, just sometimes, really can set you free.”

Mad Girl by Bryony Gordon –From running the marathon in her bra and pants to getting Prince Harry to share his own, very personal stories, Gordon has done a lot to highlight mental health. But it’s her own frank and funny story about life with OCD that will really offer comfort to anyone feeling alone in their compulsions.

Reasons To Stay Alive by Matt Haig –A book on depression that everyone should read, whether you suffer with mental illness or not. This award-winning ‘modern classic’ is as much a celebration of being alive as a look at the dark side of living. And its core message is the most important of all – that nothing is ever hopeless. (And a PS for any self-help super geeks out there, Haig’s follow-up ‘Notes on a Nervous Planet’ is out in July).

The Little Book of Mindfulness by Patrizia Collard –Can you find 10 minutes a day? Or even just 5? That’s all you need to reduce stress, improve mindfulness and find more peace in your life, according to this best-selling mini book. 

The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal –If you can’t stop stressing, then you may as well learn how to do it better! In this book Health Psychologist Kelly McGonigal argues that a) stress can be GOOD for us and b) by embracing stress and changing our thinking, it could actually become a powerful ally.

May The Thoughts Be With You by Charlotte Reed –Artist Charlotte Reed doodled herself out of depression, and the colorful characters she created went on to star in their own picture book of ‘thoughts and wisdom to inspire your days.’

How to be Human: A Manual by Ruby Wax –So, there is a manual! And this book, a three-way production from the comedian, a monk, and a neuroscientist, has been billed as a ‘handbook for those in despair.’ Wax promises that it ‘answer every question you’ve ever had about: evolution, thoughts, emotions, the body, addictions, relationships, kids, the future and compassion.’

The Anxiety Journal by Corrine Sweet –Journaling is a powerful tool for calming the mind and putting a different perspective on situations so it lends itself brilliantly to helping deal with anxiety. This book is filled with exercises to soothe stress on the go as well as keep track of how far you have come.

 

MUST-READ BOOKS ABOUT MENTAL ILLNESS

 

• 72 Hour Hold – Bebe Moore Campbell

• All the Bright Places – Jennifer Niven

• All the Things We Never Knew: Chasing the Chaos of Mental Illness – Sheila Hamilton

• Americanah – Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

• The Awakening – Kate Chopin

• Awakening Kali – T. S. Gho

• Bleeding Violet – Dia Reeves

• The Buddha and the Borderline: My Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder through Dialectical Behavior Therapy, Buddhism, and Online Dating – Kiera Van Gelder

• The Color of Hope: People of Color Mental Health Narratives – ed. Vanessa Hazzard

• The Color Purple – Alice Walker

• Crazy – Han Nolan

• Darkness Visible – William Styron

• Dragonfish – Vu Tran

• Every Last Word – Tamara Ireland Stone

• Everything, Everything – Nicola Yoon

• Everything I Never Told You – Celeste Ng

• Fangirl – Rainbow Rowell

• Find You in the Dark – A. Meredith Walters

• Flowers From the Storm – Laura Kinsale

• Franny and Zooey – J. D. Salinger

• Furiously Happy – Jenny Lawson

• Get Me Out of Here: My Recovery from Borderline Personality Disorder – Rachel Reiland

• Haldol and Hyacinths: A Bipolar Life – Melody Moezzi

• Hamlet – William Shakespeare

• The Hours – Michael Cunningham

• Hyperbole and a Half: Unfortunate Situations, Flawed Coping Mechanisms, Mayhem, and Other Things That Happened – Allie Brosh

• Imagine Me Gone – Adam Haslett

• Impulse – Ellen Hopkins

• It’s Kind of a Funny Story – Ned Vizzini

• The Last Time We Said Goodbye – Cynthia Hand

• Keep Me Still – Caisey Quinn

• Let the Tornado Come – Rita Zoey Chin

• A Little Life – Hanya Yanagihara

• Look Straight Ahead – Elaine M. Will

• Looking for Alaska – John Green

• Loud in the House of Myself: Memoir of a Strange Girl – Stacy Pershall

• Made You Up – Francesca Zappia

• Madness: A Bipolar Life – Marya Hornbacher

• The Madness of Lord Ian Mackenzie – Jennifer Ashley

• The Man Who Couldn’t Stop: OCD and the True Story of a Life Lost in Thought

• Manic: A Memoir – Terri Cheney

• Marbles: Mania, Depression, Michelangelo and Me – Ellen Forney

• The Marriage Plot – Jeffrey Eugenides

• The Memory of Light – Francisco X. Stork

• Mrs. Dalloway – Virginia Woolf

• More Happy Than Not – Adam Silvera

• My Age of Anxiety: Fear, Hope, Dread, and the Search for Peace of Mind – Scott Stossel

• My Heart and Other Black Holes – Jasmine Warga

• The Nest – Kenneth Oppel

• The Noonday Demon: An Atlas of Depression – Andrew Solomon

• Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

• Not Alone: Reflections on Faith and Depression – Monica A. Coleman

• A Note of Madness – Tabitha Suzuma

• Ophelia Speaks: Adolescent Girls Write About Their Search for Self – Sara Shandler

• Out of Her Mind: Women Writing on Mental Illness – Rebecca Shannonhouse (ed.)

• Paperweight – Meg Haston

• Polarity – Max Bemis

• Prozac Nation – Elizabeth Wurtzel

• Psychiatric Tales: Eleven Graphic Stories about Mental Illness – Daryl Cunningham

• The Quiet Room: A Journey Out of the Torment of Madness – Lori Schiller

• Reasons To Stay Alive – Matt Haig

• The Round House by Louise Erdrich

• The Salt Eaters – Toni Cade Bambara

• Shadows in the Sun: Healing from Depression and Finding the Light Within – Gayathri Ramprasad

• She’s Come Undone – Wally Lamb

• The Silver Linings Playbook– Matthew Quick

• Skinny – Donna Cooner

• Sparks Off You – Anita Felicelli

• Stop Pretending: What Happened When My Big Sister Went Crazy – Sonya Sones

• Therapy – Kathryn Perez

• Thirteen Reasons Why – Jay Asher

• The Unlikely Hero of Room 13B – Teresa Toten

• An Unquiet Mind – Kay Redfield Jamison

• Your Voice is All I Hear – Leah Scheier

• When Reason Breaks – Cindy L. Rodriguez

• When We Collided – Emery Lord

• White Oleander – Janet Fitch

• Wide Sargasso Sea – Jean Rhys

• Willow – Julia Hoban

• Willow Weep for Me: A Black Woman’s Journey through Depression – Meri Nana-Ama Danquah

• Wintergirls – Laurie Halse Anderson

• The Woman in White – Wilkie Collins

• The Yellow Wallpaper – Charlotte Perkins Gilman

9 Ways To Stop Mental Health Stigma That You Can Start Doing Today

 

Mental illness, while often challenging, is very, very, very common. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), about one in five adults experience some form of mental health issue in any given year in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) report that mental health conditions are widespread and that as many as 50 percents of people in the United States will experience a mental health condition at some point in their lives. Given these statistics, it’s clear that many people encounter mental health challenges in their lifetime. Yet, despite the fact that so many of us either manage mental health issues every day or know someone who does, stigmas surrounding mental illness persist. One way to stop these stigmas in their tracks? These small but powerful ways to stop mental health stigma are actions we can all start doing in our daily lives. So, whether you manage mental health illnesses yourself, or care about someone who does, there are ways that you can help. Here are nine actionable steps you can take every day to help stop mental health stigma while helping raise awareness and visibility for people living with mental health conditions.

1 Check In With Your Friends

Jackson says that one of the best ways to up visibility for mental health conditions is to check in with the people in your life and find out how they’re really feeling. If you think someone in your life might be going through a hard time, but is hesitant to say how they really feel, Jackson suggests asking, “How are you *really* doing?” If someone in your life is dealing with mental or emotional distress, Jackson says, check in to make sure that they’re alright.

2 Show Vulnerability In Ways That Feel Safe

Jackson notes that you can help normalize mental health issues by sharing your own experiences with others. “Self-disclose as much as you feel comfortable, Jackson recommends. “It feels good to know that others are going through, or have gone through, similar circumstances.””Also, don’t just share the negative, but also provide others with the steps or solutions as to how they can tackle the same problem,” Jackson further suggests. Psychology Today reports that self-disclosure can bring relief and improve relationships for people managing mental illness, as long as you talk to people who you trust. No rush, and no pressure.

3 Encourage People Seeking Mental Health Care

If someone you love decides to get mental health treatment, support them in that decision, Jackson says. While friends and family often mean well, they may lack the tools a person managing mental illness needs to get better. Minimizing or invalidating someone’s mental health symptoms, or viewing the need for treatment as a weakness, for instance, can cause harm.

“The wrong advice can potentially make things worse,” Jackson says. “A professional can help start the healing process, help them obtain positive coping skills, and find the best ways to deal with their mental health challenges.”

4…But Don’t Pressure Them To Do So

Jackson notes that, while seeking professional help can be lifesaving for some people managing mental illness, it’s not accessible for everyone. “Outside of fear, there are still other barriers individuals may face when attempting to get the mental health services they need.” Cost barriers, cultural stigma, and lack of access to health insurance can all keep people from receiving necessary treatment. Jackson suggests that books, articles, and online support groups can be accessible options if traditional therapy isn’t available to someone

5 Be Willing To Engage In Conversations About Stigma

According to Psychology Today, many people internalize cultural mental health stigmas. People with self-stigma might feel bad about themselves if they’re going through a hard time, or finding it difficult to cope. Also, some people who don’t live with mental illness might internalize prejudices against those who do. Interrupting harmful speech in safe ways, and engaging in conversations that challenge stereotypes and stigma, can help bring about positive change.

6 Listen

Someone dealing with mental health issues might be concerned about how their condition “will affect their life overall,” notes Jackson. “So, instead of trying to find a solution to their problem and being the ‘fixer,’ just listen. Do not try to provide a solution, just be present,” Jackson says. “Your non-judgmental presence can be more healing than you think.” Saying something like, ‘I hear you,’ or ‘I’m listening,’ while saving your advice until it’s explicitly asked for, can be way more comforting than you might realize.

7 Know The Facts

According to Shatter the Stigma Mend the Mind, separating facts from myths about mental health is key. Make sure to take the time to educate yourself about stigma and mental health issues before you try to help other people. MentalHealth.gov and NAMI are great places to start in order to learn more.

8 Examine Your Own Behavior & Attitudes Everyone is influenced by cultural conditioning, so it’s important to take the time to examine your judgments and attitudes about people with mental illness. Make a conscious effort to deconstruct any assumptions you might be making about what someone with mental illness is like. Myths like people with mental illness are more likely to be violent, are not only untrue, they also perpetuate harmful stereotypes. Unlearn these myths as much as you can by listening to people with mental illness and educating yourself.

9 Use Language Mindfully

How we use language matters. According to Psychology Today, changing our language habits around mental illness is one of the most important things we can do to stop mental health stigma. Using words like “crazy,” “schizophrenic,” or “bipolar” in derogatory ways can contribute to stigma and shame. Instead, be mindful to use language accurately and non-judgmentally; where you’d say something is “crazy,” you can say it’s “surprising” or “silly.” Similarly, don’t ascribe feelings to people with mental illness; rather than saying someone “suffers from bipolar,” try saying they “live with bipolar,” or they “experience depression.” More accurate use of these terms helps debunk stigma a little at a time.

While cultural stigmas can be stubborn, there are things you can do every day to help support people living with mental illness. By taking an active role in helping to dismantle mental health stigma and shed light on these issues, you can help turn the tide towards a more inclusive future.